Charles Garside

Criminal law, health and safety.

Mr Garside was called to the Bar in 1971 and took Silk in 1993. As a junior his practice concentrated on criminal, common law and employment work combined with public law cases when instructed by local authorities. He was instructed in leading cases concerned with jury vetting (R v Mason), trade union rights (Messenger Newspaper Group v NGA) and the ‘poll tax’ (Evans v South Ribble Borough Council) when he advised on the legal aspects of the scheme used by Manchester City Council to collect money owed. He has conducted many heavy criminal cases up to and including murders without a leader. In addition he has also been instructed in trading standards cases for local authorities and acted for other public bodies in criminal cases. Since taking silk he has mainly been engaged in criminal work while retaining an active practice in the employment and common law fields. He has been instructed in major trials including gang related murders with a particular emphasis on mortgage frauds. He has defended in major drugs cases including Customs and Excise v Kassar and others at Newcastle Crown Court where he represented the lead defendant in what was at the time the largest importation case prosecuted by HM Customs and Excise. He has been involved in many other complicated and sensitive matters including the defence of a solicitor for commercial drug dealing. Also practises at 9 Bedford Row (Chambers of Anthony Berry QC).

Tonbridge School; Inns of Court School of Law.