Adrian Darbishire KC KC > Chambers of Adrian Darbishire KC and Selva Ramasamy KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of Adrian Darbishire KC and Selva Ramasamy KC
QEB Hollis Whiteman
1-2 LAURENCE POUNTNEY HILL
LONDON
EC4R 0EU
England
Adrian Darbishire KC photo

Position

Adrian Darbishire’s defence practice focuses on workplace crime in many forms, but particularly in relation to (a) health and safety matters, including manslaughter (b) financial matters, especially sanctions breaches, cartels, corruption and money laundering issues and (c) professional misconduct, especially in relation to medical and legal professionals. He has long experience of the specific issues that arise in these cases, such as in relation to disclosure, LPP, confidentiality and the nature (and misuse) of investigatory powers. He is well-versed in the interplay between prosecutors and regulators, and has appeared in or advised in relation to many tribunals, from professional bodies (GMC, GDC, SRA etc.) to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. His practice focuses on professionals charged in criminal and disciplinary proceedings arising in connection with their work, especially anti-competitive behaviour; fraud; corruption; market abuse; serious professional misconduct and negligence; and health and safety breaches. He is also engaged in advising and defending companies in other criminal matters, such as those relating to dangerous or environmentally damaging products and workplaces. He has considerable experience of defending doctors in criminal and General Medical Council matters, including gross negligence; offences concerning the conduct of clinical research; sexual offences; verbal/physical abuse of patients; misuse of alcohol/drugs; and claims frauds. He has a particular interest in criminal cases with technical aspects such as accounting, engineering and medicine. Through cartel, corruption and sanctions work in particular, he has significant experience in and knowledge of the international dimension to domestic criminal law, for example where parallel domestic and foreign investigations are in place. He has been involved in challenges to domestic legislation based upon European directives (see R v B(I) [2010] 1 Cr App R 16), UN Security Council Resolutions (see R v PD & EB (Iraq Sanctions) [2011] EWCA Crim 2082) and ECtHR. He has Administrative Court experience for applicants and respondents on judicial review, case stated and habeas corpus. He has experience of inquests for implicated parties and families of the deceased, as well as substantial appellate experience in criminal matters, particularly in relation to sentencing. Notable cases include: acting for defendant in the first cartel prosecution (Marine Hose); acting for defendant in first cartel trial (BA/Virgin allegations); acting for prosecution in first statutory corporate manslaughter prosecution.

Career

Called Lincoln’s Inn 1993; QC 2012. Although usually acting for the defence, as a former Treasury Counsel at the CCC (2007-2012), he also brings with him long experience as a prosecutor of the most serious and complex cases.

Memberships

Competition Law Association; Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association; Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers; CBA; ECBA; registered with the Bar Council Public Access Directory; Public Access Bar Association (PABA).

Education

King’s College, London (1993-94 LLM in administrative and criminal law); City University, London (1991-92 diploma in law); Balliol College, Oxford (1985-88 BA Hons English literature).

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1

Adrian Darbishire KCQEB Hollis Whiteman ‘Adrian is an absolute star of the Bar. His advocacy is of the very highest quality – engaging, clear and persuasive. His vast experience at the cutting edge of corporate crime puts him top of the list for directors facing prosecution.’

QEB Hollis Whiteman is reputed for its specialism in financial crime and corporate offences, with the set’s members being sought out for their vast defence expertise, while also frequently acting for prosecution agencies such as the SFO and the FCA. Adrian Darbishire KC represented a founder charged with bribery offences following the sale of his company, while Selva Ramasamy KC‘s busy workload includes defending in a private prosecution for fraud brought by an American company against a solicitor related to the purchase of a castle in Scotland. Tom Doble  acts for the former CEO of a mining company charged with conspiring to make corrupt payments to government officials in Sierra Leone. Mark Aldred advises an executive on the multinational investigation involving the US Department of Justice and the SFO related to bribery allegations against Glencore in connection with allegations of bribery to officials in different West African countries.

London Bar > Health and safety

(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2

Adrian Darbishire KCQEB Hollis WhitemanA great strategist and a superb advocate.’