5 Paper Buildings

5pb has long been considered one of the leading criminal sets, where it continues to excel; however its members have recognised the ever evolving nature of the Bar and have expanded in the areas of financial crime, health and safety, regulatory and disciplinary it is also recognised as one of the leading chambers in consumer and trading standards law. Chambers draws upon some of the best talent at the criminal Bar and at present has 51 members, 11 of whom are KCs.

The set: Members take a results-focused approach to advocacy, working alongside clients to find practical solutions. Clients can also benefit from the outstanding clerking and case management that chambers offers, resulting in cost-effective use of court time and resources. Members bring an exceptional quality of representation and case management to all cases, regardless of level, size or complexity.

Types of work undertaken: members prosecute and defend across the full range of criminal practice at every level, including murder and manslaughter, large-scale drug importations, serious and historical sexual offences, human trafficking, corruption of public servants, firearms offences and serious violence, with particular experience in cases involving PII, sensitive disclosure issues and vulnerable witnesses.

Crime: Recent cases include: R v O’Brien – Prosecution of Britian’s ‘Most wanted criminal’, sentenced to life imprisonment. R v Harlow & Beadman (Facebook grooming murder), R v Clarke (the oldest defendant ever to be prosecuted at 101 years old), R v L (mother charged with murder of her 23-month-old daughter) and the Largest English Football Match Fixing Scandal. As well as Defending DJ Neil Fox on historial sex offences.

Financial crime: members of chambers are regularly involved in the largest and most complex financial crime cases. The sets experience includes all forms of fraud, MTIC/VAT/Revenue frauds, market abuse, asset recovery and confiscation proceedings. Instructions include the Libor and Euribor fraud cases, the Celtic Energy fraud, the Hatton Garden confiscation proceedings, Operation Greenyards (R v Urumov & others) and Operation Evenbox (R v Blakey & others). Sweet Group Ltd (1st ever company prosecuted under section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010), Skansen Interior Ltd (1st ever conviction for failure to prevent bribery),

Consumer law: 5pb is one of the countrys leading sets in consumer law and trading standards. The sets expertise include trade descriptions, pricing offences, property mis-descriptions, trade mark and copyright theft, product safety, environmental law, health and safety, food and food safety, ticket touting and underage sales. Cases include the first ever prosecution of a pyramid scheme in the UK (£21m) by the OFT/CMA and a £60m money laundering case involving 30 different consumer scams in nine countries in which the elderly were targeted.

Professional discipline and regulatory: 5pb is regularly instructed in healthcare regulation and professional discipline matters. Acting for individuals and corporate clients, chambers frequently appears in parallel proceedings involving criminal investigations, inquests and disciplinary proceedings. Members are also instructed in MHRA and FRC work. Members regularly appear before the GMC, GPhC, HCPTS, NMC and GOC and when necessary, on appeal. Members frequently represent doctors, pharmacists and NHS trusts at inquests. In addition 5pb appears in matters involving accountants, architects, police officers, solicitors and barristers.

Health and safety: members have extensive expertise dealing with HSE prosecutions both on behalf of the defence and the prosecution and have represented companies and individuals following workplace accidents. 5pb appeared on behalf of a company in the first ever acquittal of a company charged with corporate manslaughter and secured the conviction of one of the UKs largest engineering companies following the death of a contract worker.

Inquests and public inquiries: complementing chambers experience in medical inquests, members are regularly instructed in inquests where a death in the workplace has occurred. Chambers has considerable experience in public inquiries, having been instructed in some of the most important inquiries including Leveson and The Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

International: members have experience of work in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Caribbean.