9 Park Place

William Hughes is a criminal law specialist with a mixed prosecution and defence practice. In addition he has considerable experience in Regulatory, Disciplinary, Inquiries, Coroner’s Inquests and Local Government work. His criminal defence work includes homicide, serious sexual offences and other grave crime, particularly those cases involving vulnerable defendants and witnesses, together with VAT and Revenue fraud, fraudulent trading, money laundering and related confiscation proceedings. He has wide experience defending drug-related crime and resultant drug trafficking and CJA, DTA and POCA confiscation proceedings. Notable recent cases include Florowski & Ors (2013) [Silk leading] – murder, attempted murder and arson by foreign national; Weinreb (2013) [Silk alone] – successful defence of attempted murder and GBH; Lopez (2013) – gang-related, multi-handed GBH and violent disorder (defendant the subject of cut-throat by all the other defendants); Tidy & Anr – baby-shaking and abuse by parents of baby; Batchelor – long-term, high-value VAT fraud and McLaughlin (2012) – stranger rape. William is regularly instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service, in particular SOCA prosecutions on behalf of the CPS Serious Organised Crime Division, Central Fraud Group. He is often instructed in drugs cases with an international element, including related POCA, DTA civil and criminal legislation. Notable recent prosecution cases include lneomo & Ors (2013) [Silk alone] – prosecution of multi-defendant long-term VAT reclaim fraud; R v SC (2013) – prosecution of rape in abusive relationship; Jones (2013) – prosecution of predatory paedophile; and Koli [2012] EWCA Crim 1869; [2012] Crim. L. R. 903; [2013] 1 Cr. App. R. (S.) 6 – which was the first UK prosecution of a breach of a Serious Crime Prevention Order and is, at the time of writing, the guideline case with regard to sentencing. William has extensive experience advising and representing local authorities with regard to criminal and quasi-criminal matters and trading standards prosecutions. He has defended and presented in disciplinary tribunals for many years and is a legal advisor to disciplinary panels in Police Misconduct hearings. His notable inquest caseload includes Re Michael Melchert (2012) where he acted for landlords of the premises in which the deceased was killed when the building caught fire, and Re Frank Ogburu (2010) where he acted on behalf of four police officers in a death-in-custody case.

Called 1989; QC 2013; Recorder of the South Eastern Circuit 2004-06 (elected); SEC Executive Committee 2004-09; Committee member of the Criminal Bar Association 2007-10 (elected).

Trustee, ex-secretary and ex-treasurer of the Criminal Bar Association’s Kalisher Scholarship; executive committee member Association of London Welsh lawyers; committee member Fraud Lawyers Association; Gray’s Inn advocacy trainer.

Leicester Polytechnic (BSc (Hons) Law and Chemistry); BVC (Inns of Court School of law).