5 Paper Buildings

Criminal practitioner with particular specialism in fraud and the criminal aspects of intellectual property and consumer law. Frequently prosecuting for local authorities, instructed pre-charge to advise on ongoing investigations; these have involved offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Animal Health Act 1981. Recently he, led by Miles Bennett, prosecuted to conviction the first ticket tout to face charges under the Fraud Act 2006 on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.

Andrew is a criminal specialist, principally practicing in consumer and intellectual property work. He is a grade 3 prosecutor for the CPS, and acts frequently for trading standards departments as well as private prosecutors, including industry bodies such as the Federation Against Copyright Theft and regulators. Recent consumer law prosecutions include securing convictions for fraudulent trading over the course of four years in counterfeit motor vehicle parts; the manufacture and distributing of counterfeit DVDs over the course of three years; the laundering of £50,000 obtained by a rogue trader from a vulnerable, elderly consumer; the passing off horse meat as zebra steaks, which received international media coverage; and the sale by a large retailer of unsafe high-visibility jackets, which resulted in a concession in confiscation proceedings that the company had a criminal lifestyle. His defence practice includes securing a suspended sentence for a defendant accused of trading in counterfeit Sennheiser headphones through Amazon’s online marketplace.  His intellectual property practice crosses over into the civil courts, and he is currently instructed in a number of matters before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court. He acted for Sky plc in successful contempt proceedings, following the breach of an undertaking to cease the infringement of copyright works.  He recently acted for the Architects Registration Board, in the successful first prosecution of an architect for an offence under the Fraud Act.

Practice encompasses general crime and regulatory work, both for the defence and for the prosecution, with a particular emphasis on fraud. Has a varied practice in the Crown Court, including cases of violence (s.18 wounding/GBH, robbery), sexual offences, serious public order offences, firearms, drugs (supply, possession and cultivation), and offences of dishonesty. Prosecutes for local authorities (particularly trading standards) in cases concerning a variety of offences, including product safety, counterfeiting (under trade marks/copyright legislation), taxi licensing, environmental health (including fly-tipping), food safety and offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (including in particular ‘aggressive business practices’).

Barrister. Specialist areas include: Murder and Manslaughter Drug Offences Theft and Dishonesty Business Crime & Financial Services Serious Sexual Offences Driving Offences Fare Evasion

Defending and prosecuting general crime and fraud in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal.

As leader and junior, Ben defends and provides compliance advice to professional and corporate clients including PLCs. He prosecutes for the Serious Fraud Office, CPS Specialist Fraud Division (including medical regulation), Organised Crime and Special Crime Divisions, Appeals Unit and Proceeds of Crime Unit, and local authorities. Level 4 prosecutor. Specialist panels: Fraud, Serious Crime and Proceeds of Crime (London, South East and Wales). CPS Advocate Rape and Child Abuse List. Bribery: Operation Vectorial (matchfixing): Ben represented the first person ever acquitted of Bribery Act offence); SFO v BH ($2.7Bn bribery). Fraud: SFO v Evans (£170m Celtic Energy “fraud”): Ben represented the first Defendant in victories over the SFO in this “blockbuster” case; Operation Valgus (mortgage; over 1,000 mortgages); Operation Festival (complex tax); Abacus Trading (£40m invoice / banking); Operation Ernest (£110m factoring fraud); Operation Militia (botnet cyber fraud); SFO v OB [2014] UKSC 23 (Contempt; Extradition; Restraint; Specialty; Boiler-room Fraud). Consumer law including trademarks, copyright, medical, criminal planning, food safety and environmental health. Co-author Blackstone’s Guide to the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Human rights: Zaredar [2016] EWCA Crim 877; Boateng [2016] 2 Cr. App. R. 5; YY [2016] 1 Cr. App. R. 28; Mateta [2014] 1 WLR 1516 (asylum); J (2016 special court); L [2014] 1 All ER 113 and N and Le [2013] QB 379 (human trafficking) and Ewing [2016] 1 Cr. App. R. 32 (free speech); R (DPP) v Leicester  [2016] 1 Cr. App. R. 5 (self-incrimination). Co-authored Human Trafficking CPS Guidance and Law Society Immigration Crime Guidance. Attorney in Grenada.

Bramble joined chambers in March 2021 following the successful completion of her pupillage. During pupillage, Bramble developed a broad criminal practice. She prosecutes and defends in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts in a variety of cases involving offensive weapons, burglary, drug offences, sexual offences and driving matters. She also acts for requested persons in extradition proceedings. She is regularly instructed in healthcare disciplinary proceedings and public inquiries. Bramble is currently working on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care in the Infected Blood Inquiry and has previously been involved in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Bramble is committed to pro bono representation. She often takes on cases at Advocate and volunteers for the AvMA helpline and inquest panel. During her legal studies, Bramble volunteered at the Lambeth Law Centre, the Free Representation Unit and the Citizens Advice Bureau; she attended Social Security tribunal appeals with clients and made written submissions on their behalf.  

Carolina defends and prosecutes a broad range of cases, from sex offences and violence to theft and fraud. She regularly appears for the defence in road traffic and fare evasion cases, as well as in confiscation enforcement proceedings. Carolina advises on civil matters related to criminal proceedings, such as the merits of a potential action for wrongful arrest, and represents clients in private hire licensing appeals.

Crime, regulatory law.

Specialises in criminal work, undertaking cases on behalf of the prosecution and defence. Was involved as junior counsel in Operation Movement, the largest car ringing case ever investigated, for the only defendant to have been acquitted; second prosecution junior instructed by DEFRA in a multimillion-pound conspiracy to defraud and is currently instructed as junior defence counsel in the Victoria Station murder. Catherine is on the Attorney General’s list and often appears on behalf of the HSE, DWP and the BIS. She has also appeared on behalf of interested parties at coroners’ inquests and before the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Charlene has a wide range of experience defending and prosecuting serious complex criminal matters, including murder, rape, GBH, large scale drug importations and fraud. She has a particular expertise in dealing with case where there is complex scientific evidence (including DNA, blood splatter and ballistics). She has also appeared in a number of cases where intermediaries were used for both Crown witnesses and defendants due to the age and vulnerabilities of those involved. A significant proportion of Charlene’s work is in the sphere of ‘consumer’ crime. Charlene accepts instructions from a number of Trading Standards services (including Hull, East Riding, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and those based in various London Boroughs). She has appeared for both the prosecution and the defence in matters including Food and Product Safety, CPUTS, Copyright and Trademarks. She has recently appeared for a business in the Queen’s Bench Division against a local authority seeking an injunction under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations.

Primary tabs View(active tab)   Edit   Delete   Revisions   Entityqueue CHLOE HUCKER Chloe joined chambers in October 2019 following the successful completion of her pupillage. Chloe has developed a broad criminal practice and is instructed to prosecute and defend in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and the Crown Court. She has defended clients facing a range of criminal offences, including public order offences, cases of domestic violence, possession of weapons and dishonesty offences. Chloe is also a member of the CPS Advocates’ Panel at Grade 1 and prosecutes trials in the Magistrates’ Court and appeals in the Crown Court. Prior to starting pupillage, Chloe worked for 2 years as a paralegal in the Employment and Regulatory team at the Association of Optometrists. She assisted members who were facing formal proceedings at work and provided advice on employment law matters. Following this experience, Chloe is interested in developing her practice and representing professionals in regulatory proceedings.

Christopher joined chambers in October 2018 following the successful completion of pupillage. He has cultivated a broad and busy practice prosecuting and defending in serious criminal matters before the Magistrates’ Court, the Youth Court and the Crown Court.

Appointed Senior Treasury Counsel in 2022, Deanna is a highly experienced criminal barrister who is regularly instructed in the most serious and high-profile cases. For over a decade she has specialised in the prosecution of homicide offences at the Central Criminal Court. In 2020 she was named The Times Lawyer of the Week following her successful prosecution of Jonty Bravery who threw a child from the viewing platform of the Tate Modern. She frequently appears before the Court of Appeal in respect of appeals against conviction and sentence and advises the Attorney General on References to the Court of Appeal on questions of law and sentencing. In 2021, following a four-day appeal which involved questioning multiple experts she successfully persuaded the Court of Appeal to uphold the convictions in the case of the so-called ‘Freshwater Five’. Deanna is also an acknowledged expert in health and safety law and has specialised in this area for many years, appearing in the leading case of R v Tangerine Confectionary in the Court of Appeal. She is experienced in appearing at inquests, including those involving juries, and is currently instructed in the inquest into the death of Belly Mujinga who died during the Covid 19 pandemic. She sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court.

Substantial practice in consumer law and in crime and fraud. Consumer law: Areas of specialisation include Trade mark and Copyright offences, Trading Standards and all Consumer offences, for which he is instructed by both defendants, companies, and local authorities. Regularly instructed in novel and complex consumer law proceedings; brought the first proceedings under Part VIII Enterprise Act 2002 (Stop Now Orders), and the first prosecution (for the OFT) under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. Author of Blackstone Guide to Consumer Rights Act 2015.  Instructed to defend in largest ever consumer case brought by National Trading Standards into fake Government websites. Instructed to advise for consumer law by CMA. Regularly acts in an advisory capacity on UK and EU regulatory consumer law for multi-national companies, private prosecutors and individuals. Has particular experience on the overlap between EU law and UK criminal law (in the context of competition, environmental law and discrimination). This area is about to become an interesting mess. General crime: Wide range of experience in defending and prosecuting all types of criminal cases. Grade 4 prosecutor. Specialist in confiscation. Particular expertise in homicide (including cases involving infant death), environmental cases, money laundering and cases involving gambling. Regularly instructed as leading junior counsel, by CPS Appeals Unit, and CPS Specialist Fraud Division. Please see the 5 Paper Buildings website for additional details.

Prosecutes and defends serious crime as junior and leading junior counsel. Particular expertise in financial crime, fraudulent trading, confiscation and asset recovery, including enforcement proceedings and applications for certificates of inadequacy in both the High Court and Crown Court. Dominic’s experience also covers drugs, violence and serious sexual offences, including rape, historic sexual assaults, incest and human trafficking. A further specialism is in the area of prosecuting and defending regulatory offences: recent cases in which Dominic has been instructed include a money laundering prosecution arising out of the operation of an illegal gambling club. Related consumer law experience includes, for example, the CPUTRs and product safety regulations. Appointed to the Panel of Special Advocates in 2010, with experience in SIAC and Administrative Court proceedings. Also instructed as independent disclosure counsel in criminal proceedings.

He is a specialist in fraud, corruption, corporate crime and related regulatory issues. Acts for both the state and the defence. Recently appeared successfully for the SFO in the Supreme Court in SFO v O`Brien [2014] UKSC 23. Currently instructed by the DPP of Trinidad and Tobago in a case concerning the largest collapse of a financial conglomerate in the Caribbean. He has lectured on behalf of the Bar Council on corruption, fraud and regulatory matters in the USA, Russia, China, Ukraine and Brazil. Work undertaken: fraud, corruption, corporate crime and related regulatory issues, IP crime, extradition, proceeds of crime, murder, smuggling including evasion of sanctions.

Called 2011

A specialist in complex fraud and financial crime, corruption and organised crime.  Currently instructed by the SFO in prosecutions alleging manipulation of the  Libor and Euribor benchmark interest rates, and by CPS Specialist Fraud Division in cases involving complex tax evasion schemes and pension liberation fraud.  Regularly instructed by BIS in matters involving fraudulent conduct in respect of companies.

Specalist areas: Business Crime & Financial Services Consumer Law General Crime

Specialist jury advocate with experience and expertise in heavy and serious crime across a wide spectrum of offences, including murder, gang related crime, firearms, sexual offences and serious fraud. Currently instructed to defend in a case alleging corporate manslaughter. Essentially a specialist defence advocate, and since taking Silk has particular experience in defending in murder cases, single defendant and multi handed, including those involving ‘cut throat’ defences, and cases requiring expertise in all areas of specialist forensic sciences.

James has a general criminal practice, both prosecuting and defending in the Magistrates Court, Youth Court and Crown Court. He undertakes private and legally aided work and has appeared in cases involving a wide range of offences, including violence, dishonesty, drugs and sexual offences. Outside of criminal practice, James pursues an academic interest in judicial review.

Criminal law, with a heavy emphasis on prosecution work. Extensive experience in prosecuting all types of fraud.

James joined chambers in October 2019, following the successful completion of pupillage. James has been instructed in a broad range of criminal matters in the magistrates’ courts, the youth courts and the Crown Court on behalf of the defence and the prosecution. He has defended clients in cases involving serious and domestic violence, possession of weapons, drugs offences and road traffic matters. He is also regularly instructed to prosecute trials in the magistrates’ courts on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service. Before coming to the Bar, James qualified as a Chartered Accountant at a Big 4 firm, specialising in external financial audit of large listed companies. He also spent some years working as a group financial accountant at a leading healthcare group, ensuring regulatory compliance with IFRSs and the Companies Acts and working on a major restructuring programme.

Criminal practitioner for both the defence and prosecution. A leading fraud junior specialsing in serious fraud, money laundering, confiscation/asset forfeiture as well as drugs, general crime and sexual offences. Janet has been involved in many of the highest profile or most complex fraud cases, including R v Redknapp, Mandaric and Storrie. She has a specialism in fiscal offences, including insider dealing. She has prosecuted a number of senior solicitors and accountants for money-laundering offences, VAT fraud and fraud on the Legal Services Commission. She is on the regulatory list with specialism in health and safety and SFO A list. She is regularly instructed by BIS, CPS Special Casework and Fraud. She has defended this year in large-scale mortgage frauds, and complex fraudulent trading trials.

Jennifer has appeared on behalf of clients charged with a spectrum of offences including murder, rape, fraud and money laundering matters and other serious violent, sexual and drug offences. Recent Defence Experience Jennifer has conducted the following cases: R v PE Jennifer secured not guilty verdicts for her client charged with eight counts of historic sexual offences. Two complainants, aged 3 and 5 at the time, alleged that their foster brother, then aged 14, had repeatedly seriously indecently assaulted them within the family home between 1972-1974. Social service records documented that the older girl had said something at the time and the girls were eventually removed from the family home. After a twelve day trial, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all counts. R v Kaneel Huggins (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-36285963) Jennifer was instructed as junior counsel to David Bentley from Doughty Street Chambers to represent this 19 year old charged with murder. The teenage defendants were said to have planned the fatal stabbing of the 18 year old victim days in advance of its occurrence. First on the indictment, Jennifer’s client was convicted of manslaughter, but acquitted of murder. R v DJ Jennifer was instructed on behalf of this defendant charged with two counts of rape. Her client was a barman working on the night in question when he engaged in sexual acts with the complainant in the ladies toilets of the pub. There was an eye witness to events. Jennifer’s client was acquitted of both counts. R v Sam Maude Jennifer was instructed as sole counsel for a defendant charged in an eight handed conspiracy to defraud and money launder where the conspirators were said to have defrauded victims of over £2.5 million in an elaborate carbon credit ponzi scheme. Although the defendant eventually pleaded guilty part way through the trial when new evidence emerged that he had sent a text message stating that he knew what he was doing was ‘obviously illegal’, Jennifer managed to secure her client a suspended sentence. R v HN Jennifer was instructed as junior counsel for a defendant accused of sexual assaults against numerous complainants committed in the 1990s in the course of his employment as a doctor assessing applicants for the police force. Recent Prosecution Experience Jennifer is a CPS Level 3 Panel Prosecutor and has accumulated a wealth of experience prosecuting cases at Crown Court level including offences of perjury, robbery, money laundering, offences under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 and other serious offences, including a case of arson on a church. She has significant experience prosecuting high value frauds, involving large volumes of documentation amassed following months of investigation. She is also regularly instructed to advise and prosecute on behalf of local authorities and has prosecuted on behalf of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Other Experience Jennifer brought about a change in the law as a result of an appeal by way of case stated to the Divisional Court on the pervasive issue of a driver’s duty to stop and provide details following an accident (CPS v Magee [2014] EWHC 4089 (Admin)).  For further details please see notable cases section. Jennifer has appeared as an advocate at Parole Board hearings including representing a prisoner who had been sentenced to imprisonment for public protection with a minimum of 17 years and still denied central elements of his crime. She has also acted as an advocate for clients at private licensing hearings. Other Notable Cases R v NK Jennifer represented a defendant charged with raping his ex-partner. She had a restraining order in force against the defendant at the time and alleged that on the day he was released from prison (after serving a sentence for assaulting her brother), he attended her home uninvited, and raped her. She called the police immediately and the defendant was arrested whilst still in her property. The defendant was acquitted following trial. R v MJ Jennifer represented a defendant charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering of £95,000 over a 2 year period. The indictment period began on the day of the defendant's release from a sentence of 4 1/2 years hard labour imposed by the Trinidad & Tobego courts for attempting to export 15kg of cocaine from that country. This conviction, and a previous conviction in the UK for importing cocaine, were known to the jury. The defendant was acquitted of both charges following a two week trial. R v BM Jennifer represented a defendant charged with false imprisonment and assault (by way of burning the victim with a hot iron), alongside four co-defendants. She made a successful submission of no case to answer following detailed analysis and cross examination of the complainant’s phone records and corresponding cell site evidence, which ultimately undermined the complainant’s account to such an extent that the jury were directed to return a not guilty verdict. R v TR Jennifer secured an acquittal for a client charged with three counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply where three police officers asserted they had seen the defendant dispose of the drugs into a neighbouring garden during a police raid of his residence. The defendant had previous for supplying class A drugs and admitted to possession of class A drugs in his bedroom. He also had self seal bags and a large amount of cash in his bedroom. R v AL Jennifer secured an acquittal in a case of unlawful wounding where a police officer had purported to identify the defendant causing the injury and CCTV supported the account that the defendant had approached the complainant’s group of friends in an agitated manner. Following thorough cross examination, the police officer accepted he may have been mistaken in his identification. R v MS Jennifer represented a defendant charged with conspiracy to import over 6kg cocaine (worth over £1 million) into the UK. The co-defendant, who was supported by an intermediary, was running a cut-throat defence which alleged that MS had set her up and was able to take advantage because of the co-defendant’s vulnerabilities and mental health difficulties. R v JM Jennifer made a successful submission of no case to answer on a charge of assault by penetration in the Youth Court, where the complainant was aged 14 and was the defendant’s cousin. The defendant was further acquitted at the close of the defence case on charges of sexual assault made by two other complainants. CPS v Magee [2014] EWHC 4089 (Admin) Jennifer appealed by way of case stated to the Divisional Court a case involving the issue of a driver’s duty to stop and provide details following an accident. The Divisional Court disagreed with the legal reasoning by the District Judge in the lower court, deciding that the law should be - as had been submitted by Jennifer - that even where a driver is informed that an accident has occurred, if the driver can satisfy the court on the balance of probabilities that they still hold a genuine belief that there has been no accident, no duty to provide details arises. Unfortunately however, this particular appellant was intoxicated at the time of the incident and the Court, causing Jennifer no surprise, declined to extend this new principle of law to drivers in such a state. Nonetheless this new principle of law for sober drivers is now reported law and may be utilised in numerous cases in coming years. R v TS Jennifer represented a defendant on a charge of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Plea negotiated on the basis of the latter charge only. Sentence of 16 months imprisonment referred by the Attorney General. The Court of Appeal declined to increase the sentence. R v AG Jennifer represented a 68 year old woman accused of spending over £200,000 of her mother-in-law's money over a 2 year period whilst she was acting as power of attorney. The care home caring for the mother-in-law was left out of pocket to the tune of £45,000. Basis of plea negotiated at a figure of £86,000 and an immediate custodial sentence avoided. R v PL Jennifer secured an extremely favourable sentence of 18 months imprisonment for a defendant convicted of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and money laundering. The defendant spent eight months packaging and sending parcels containing drugs and phones to a prison teacher who passed them on to an inmate at Wormwood Scrubs. Family and friends of the prisoners receiving these items would then pay by depositing monies in the defendant’s bank account. The case was reported in the Evening Standard. R v BL Jennifer represented a quadriplegic defendant who faced a 36 count indictment for inciting numerous young girls to engage in sexual activity via webcam over the internet, and then recording and storing the activity on his computer. A compassionate sentence of 3½ years imprisonment was imposed, which fell far below the range suggested by previous sentencing authorities.

Called 1993

Barrister advising and representing companies and individuals in the UK and abroad (particularly in Hong Kong, China, Singapore and the Gulf) on a wide range of issues, including corporate liability, regulatory matters, criminal and civil fraud, bribery, insider trading, cartels, money laundering, health and safety, and environmental issues. His corporate criminal work has included representing P&O Ferries (Zeebrugge disaster), Great Western Trains (Southall crash), Balfour Beatty (Hatfield derailment) and Alton Towers Theme Park (noise nuisance prosecution). He has appeared in many of the leading serious fraud cases of recent years, including Guinness, Blue Arrow, Leeson/Barings Bank, Maxwell and Versailles. He has advised in several international corruption investigations and in a recent major price-fixing case involving the drugs industry. He has acted for regulators and prosecuting authorities (both in the UK and abroad) as well as for the defence of private clients. Outside the UK, he has regularly appeared for clients in the courts of Hong Kong and Singapore. He also advises and acts in media and entertainment cases for national newspapers, television companies and well-known individuals, specialising in content, regulation, contempt, defamation, confidentiality and privacy. Also representing Associated Newspapers Limited, its editors and journalists in the Leveson Inquiry into the Culture, Practice and Ethics of the Press. He is an adjudicator for the Dubai Media Free Zone Authority. He is currently defending in the phone hacking trial at the Old Bailey (R v Brooks & Others).

Joshua has a wide range of experience in the Magistrates’, Youth and Crown Court acting for both the prosecution and the defence. He is frequently instructed in cases involving violent assaults and fraud. Joshua’s experience includes being led by senior counsel in cases involving serious violence and the importation of drugs. Joshua also has extensive experience in driving matters, taking a particular interest in cases which require argument on a novel point of law.

A criminal practitioner with considerable experience in defending and prosecuting a wide range of general crime, with a particular emphasis on tax fraud; he has also applied the same analytical and advocacy skills to civil proceedings for fraud, the confiscation of the proceeds of crime, and advising or representing those served with third party witness summonses. Before taking silk he was Standing Counsel to the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office for five years, prosecuting cases involving the creation and promotion of income and corporation tax evasion schemes, drugs importation cases brought on behalf of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, and cases involving diversion fraud, evasion of VAT or Anti-Dumping Duty, and money laundering. He has also been instructed by the SFO, the MHRA, and the OFT (in relation to cartels). Recent cases include prosecuting individuals employed to devise and sell a tax avoidance scheme involving the purchase of shares in start-up companies which were then floated on the Channel Island Stock exchange; the shares were then donated to charity, and dishonestly overvalued for the purposes of claims for tax relief on the donations. There were over 600 subscribers to the scheme, who between them sought to avoid paying more than £70m in tax as a result. The defendants subscribed themselves, but also extracted £4.5m for their own benefit from the proceeds of the share subscriptions. Defending the principal defendant in a 6 month MTIC fraud trial, where £10m is alleged to have been obtained dishonestly from HMRC, and false claims submitted for a further £18m. Prosecuting four defendants contesting two conspiracies to defraud and money laundering in respect of fraudulent wine investment schemes operated over three years through two successive companies which obtained £4.5m from members of the public induced to invest in wine overseas. Defending a lobster fisherman charged with having collected a number of rucksacks containing 250kg of cocaine from the middle of the English Channel and depositing them just off the coast of the Isle of Wight, involving allegations of disputed observation evidence.

Called 2014

Kevin principally represents pharmacists and doctors before the the fitness to practise committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council and the General Medical Council. He also acts for NHS England and respondent pharmacists and doctors with regard to regulatory/performance issues arising from the pharmaceutical and performers lists. He is regularly instructed to act for one of the pharmacy multiples. His background in serious crime, inquests and professional discipline ensures continuity of representation in cases when a fatality arises from a clinical error. He has also acted for police officers and solicitors facing criminal and regulatory proceedings. He has been instructed to act as legal chair for PCT (NHS England) committees and the British Fencing Association.

Expert in serious organised crime and fraud cases (especially those involving trademark and copyright infringement), murder, sexual offences and drug importation cases. 2017 saw Mark instructed in a series of high profile cases including; The Charlie Alliston ‘cycling case’ appearing on behalf of the Defence. This was a landmark case that lead directly to a review of the law. Alliston was acquitted of unlawful act manslaughter. The New Order case. Mark appeared on behalf of the bassist Peter Hook making a successful application for leave for a derivative claim in the Chancery Division regarding the trade mark for the pop group New Order. Operation Cleo – re HMRC ‘copycat’ type website. Mark appeared on behalf of the defence. Appearing for the defence in a series of high profile murder cases; R v Field (acquittal of murder). R v Cameron (acquittal of murder). R v Piktorov (subject of an unsuccessful AG’s Reference). Mark is an expert in serious organised crime and fraud cases (appointed as an approved Queen’s Counsel prosecutor with the Serious Fraud Office) and conducts trials for both defence and prosecution involving VAT frauds, murder, sexual offences and drug importation cases. Mark is an ‘Accredited Advocate’ for complex criminal cases (VHCC) with the Legal Services Commission.

Specialises in criminal fraud and serious crime. Instructed by the Serious Fraud Office (A list), the Financial Conduct Authority, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the CPS specialist fraud unit (Grade 4). Defence practice ranges from money laundering to murder. Worked on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. Recent appellate practice includes R v Mehta (whether it is open to a jury to convict of a lesser included conspiracy) and R v Bayode (whether permissible to re-try defendant for murder following conviction for manslaughter).

Prosecutes and defends in financial crime and related areas. His specialist fields include revenue fraud, insider trading and investment fraud, money laundering, bribery, confiscation and asset forfeiture. Formerly Standing Counsel to H.M. Customs and Excise, he has appeared in numerous high -profile cases and is prominent in the field of VAT fraud having appeared in many of the major cases of the past decade. His recent or pending cases include: the SFO prosecution of Sweete PLC for an offence of bribery in the Middle East; confiscation proceedings in HMRC Operation Vaulter; a high-profile private prosecution by a UK insurance company; the criminal investigation of an alleged tax avoidance scheme; a major money laundering prosecution (R v Adams & Ors.) and an FCA investment fraud (R v Bhandari & Ors.) He has lectured on tax and other serious fraud including LexisNexis webinars.

Michael has successfully represented defendants charged with sexual offences and offences related to violence, drugs and dishonesty. He has achieved positive results before a wide range of tribunals – from taxi licensing sub-committees to the Court of Appeal. In addition to prosecuting on behalf of the CPS, he is regularly instructed to represent local authorities and private prosecutors.

Miles has specialised for the last 20 years in consumer Law (criminal, regulatory and advisory) trade mark infringement, copyright theft, health and safety and inquests. As well as acting as leading junior counsel in large-scale consumer frauds he regularly appears in case stated, judicial review proceedings and the Court of Appeal in complex appellate work. Miles prosecutes for the OFT, numerous local authorities nationwide and private prosecution organisations such as FACT. Miles was leading junior counsel instructed on behalf of the OFT to prosecute the first ever Pyramid Promotional Scheme case in the UK under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPUTR’s) The case involved 11 defendants and a scheme involving thousands of participants in the South West of England. The scheme collapsed with losses of £21m. Miles defends major Plc’s in the retail sector, (in particular the supermarket sector) companies, directors and individuals. Miles was junior defence Counsel in R (Birmingham CC) v Tesco Stores Ltd a case involving the national prosecution of a major retailer over multi-million pound allegations of misleading commercial practices in the promotion and sale of strawberries. Miles is a contributing editor in Kirk and Lewin’s ‘Pink Book’, one of the leading practitioner text books on Consumer Law and is a regular speaker at the annual TSI conference. Miles has recently appeared as junior defence counsel in one of the few prosecutions for corporate manslaughter. He regularly appears at inquests and was recently instructed for a project managing company at an inquest into the deaths of four construction workers at Great Yarmouth.

A specialist in serious fraud and organised crime. Has particular experience in bribery and coruption cases. Lead counsel in murders (recently the Kayleigh Haywood case), white collar crime, money laundering and fiscal frauds (including frauds on the NHS). Since taking silk she has increased her defence practice and deals with a variety of cases including historic sexual abuse, rape, murder, and fraud. She defended the first Bribery Act case. Experienced in cases involving sudden deaths of infants and is recognised as a leader in cases involving young or vulnerable witnesses and defendants (including the use of intermediaries). In the last year she has successfully defended a number of murder cases involving teenage defendants, as well as a series of historic abuse cases and baby shaking allegations. Currently lead counsel in operation Yewtree spin off cases having prosecuted Dave Lee Travis and various doctors.

Called 2016

Natalya joined chambers in October 2018, following the successful completion of pupillage. Natalya is developing a broad criminal practice, and is instructed to prosecute and defend in a range of matters before the Magistrates’ Court, the Youth Court and the Crown Court. She has gained experience of a wide variety of criminal cases, including serious and domestic violence, theft, fraud, public order, offensive weapons, drugs, and driving offences. Prior to pupillage, Natalya worked as a paralegal at Hickman and Rose in the corporate crime department. She was part of the core defence team for a defendant in the Barclays Libor trial. As well as assisting in the preparation of the trial, Natalya attended the trial in its entirety. Natalya also spent time working as an assistant to a criminal silk, during which time she gained experience of both prosecuting and defending manslaughter and Health and Safety at Work cases. Due to her background before pupillage, Natalya has a particular interest in health and safety and financial crime. During pupillage she assisted her supervisor, Deanna Heer, in a successful MHRA prosecution relating to production of steroids, and she has also assisted other members of chambers in various health and safety matters.

Natasha joined Chambers in March 2021 following the successful completion of pupillage. Natasha is developing a broad criminal practice, and defends and prosecutes in the magistrates’ courts, youth courts and Crown Court. She has been praised by her clients for her ‘meticulous attention to detail’ and ‘calm and measured submissions which command the attention of the court’.   She has acted in cases involving serious and domestic violence, possession of weapons and drugs and public order offences. Natasha is also regularly instructed in road traffic matters.  Throughout her pupillage, Natasha assisted her supervisors on cases involving a broad spectrum of serious and complex criminal offences including bribery, murder, child cruelty and fraud. Natasha has further assisted members of Chambers on regulatory cases and looks forward to incorporating such work into her own practice. Prior to commencing pupillage, Natasha worked as a paralegal in the white-collar crime team of a busy criminal defence firm where she assisted on complex financial crime cases and associated confiscation proceedings. Previously, she worked as a police emergency call handler and as a legal assistant at a leading cyber security company.

Over the last 30 years defendant serious crimes as junior and leading junior. Experienced in all types of serious fraud (£7m), money laundering, drugs, conspiracies, gang and organised crime, murder, robbery and sexual offences. I have prosecuted as well. Considerable experience in Court of Appeal. Direct Access available.

Oliver Sells specialises in complex criminal cases (especially appellate work) involving fraud, extradition, money laundering and confiscation. Since taking Silk he has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, both at first instance and on appeal. Revenue offences, asset forfeiture and confiscation proceedings form a significant part of his practice, as he regularly represents prosecutors, receivers and third parties in the Crown Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords on matters relating to the restraint, receivership and confiscation of property. His practice areas also include: criminal law – specialising in commercial fraud, revenue and excise offences, money laundering, asset forfeiture; trade descriptions; licensing; statutory, regulatory and disciplinary inquiries; judicial review; human rights law; extradition; and money laundering, asset forfeiture and confiscation.

Richard currently maintains a broad criminal practice, including general and serious crime, fraud and confiscation proceedings, undertaking both prosecution and defence work in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts. Recent instructions include conspiracy to possess a firearm involving a firearm drop by Victoria Station, representing a vulnerable client accused of fraud against his mother, and allegations of fraud on a charity by a volunteer of the charity. Richard was recently instructed to represent an individual at his preliminary Crown Court proceedings in a $250m conspiracy to defraud involving a Russian investment bank. Fraud, POCA and confiscation proceedings: Richard represents individuals charged with fraud offences and regularly deals with cases involving extensive bank account transaction evidence and cell site analysis. Serious violence and sexual offences: Richard has experience in the intricacies of cross examining young and vulnerable complainants in these types of matters. He has also been instructed in respect of drug conspiracy cases involving undercover police officers and test purchases. Road traffic: Richard has been instructed to represent clients in a broad range of road traffic offences and has successfully argued special reasons and exceptional hardship. Richard has dealt with a number of these matters at trial involving careless driving, driving without insurance and driving in excess of alcohol limits. Secondment: in January 2015 Richard went on secondment for six months to leading business crime and commercial litigation specialists Peters and Peters Solicitors LLP. While there, he dealt with a number of cross-border fraud investigations involving the analysis and application of laws and procedures from multiple jurisdictions. These matters included SFO investigations into LIBOR, FOREX and Barclays. Richard regularly works with prosecutors in foreign jurisdictions including the US, Switzerland and Brazil.

Specialist in Criminal Fraud with a strong emphasis on VAT (carousel) fraud in recent years. In addition he practices in the following areas: Courts-Martial (he represented one of the defendants in the ‘Camp Bread Basket’ Iraqi detainee abuse trial); health and safety – defence; trading standards – prosecution and defence.

Called 1992

Barrister with wide experience of defending and prosecuting serious crime at first instance and appellate level. He practices in the following areas: fraud, money laundering, confiscation and restraint, drugs importation and supply, murder, extradition, VAT and MTIC fraud, licensing and regulatory work (he acts in licensing matters for applicants and regulatory authorities. His trading standards work involves the defence and prosecution of individuals and corporations in all areas including health and safety, trade descriptions, product safety, pricing, property misdescription, food law.), professional discipline and acts for police officers and members of the security industry. Rory has a background in publishing which included a promotions background at EMI and Warner Bros. before forming a ‘start up’ publishing enterprise dealing with African emerging markets.

Stephen has combined a practice in criminal law, with an emphasis on fraud, with extensive professional disciplinary and regulatory work, including acting for regulators in criminal proceedings. He regularly advises the ACCA in a range disciplinary matters relating to accountants (including serious financial impropriety) and frequently appears before the disciplinary and appeal tribunals of that body. He also acts for the MHRA in medicines cases involving individual and corporate defendants, including cases where errors in the supply of medicines have resulted in patient fatalities.

Teresa enjoys a solid practice prosecuting and defending general and financial crime, consumer law, and private prosecutions. As a Grade 3 CPS prosecutor and rape specialist she handles the full range of criminal offences including serious sexual and violence offences. She has particular expertise dealing with young or otherwise vulnerable witnesses and clients, a topic on which she has previously lectured. She has experience of large scale and high profile cases, both acting on her own and as junior. Fraud cases have included credit card, haulage, identity, and share dealing, with an emphasis on defending. Her consumer law work includes advising and prosecuting for local authorities, acting for individual trademark holders, and prosecuting for the Office of Fair Trading.