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Index of tables

  1. Fraud: crime - leading sets
  2. Fraud: crime: leading silks
  3. Fraud: crime - leading juniors

Fraud: crime: leading silks

Cloth Fair Chambers is considered ‘ the best fraud set, head and shoulders above the rest in sheer quality’. Edmund Lawson QC’s ‘ intellectual rigour is unquestionable, and the judicial respect he commands makes him the perfect leader’. Nicholas Purnell QC is also ‘ utterly outstanding’. ‘ Major players’ Julian Bevan QC and John Kelsey-Fry QC are ‘ charming jury advocates’. Timothy Langdale QC is a ‘ great tactician, extremely polished and effective’. Ian Winter QC is ‘ as sharp as a razor, and very persuasive’.

2 Bedford Row is promoted, possessing ‘ obvious strength in depth’. The ‘ exceptionally able’ James Sturman QC is ‘ a “people’s” silk - accessible, approachable, and on top of detail’. William Clegg QC is ‘ the fraud silk of choice’ and ‘ a class act’. Peter Lodder QC is recommended. Alison Pople is the ‘ best fraud junior in the country’. She represented former finance director Dennis Lomas in the Independent Insurance fraud.

At QEB Hollis Whiteman‘ the clerks are efficient… and the quality of tenants is consistently high’. William Boyce QC‘ commands respect’ and remains an ‘ outstanding choice for fraud’. Anthony Glass QC has a ‘ fantastic presence, and is a real advocate’s advocate’. Adrian Darbishire enters the top tier as ‘ a wonderful all-round counsel, providing the highest level of advice. He’s a creative thinker and a powerfully persuasive advocate’. Selva Ramasamy stands out as ‘ hardworking, with impressive attention to detail, and a forensic approach to preparation. Unflappable under pressure, he exudes confidence and ability’.

Solicitors say Three Raymond Buildings remains ‘ particularly good for fraud’. Stephen Batten QC is‘ as eminent a silk as there is for serious fraud cases’. Alex Cameron QC is ‘ client-friendly, practical, down-to-earth… an outstanding barrister’. Patrick Gibbs QC is ‘ quiet, calm, persuasive and tremendously sensible’. Neil Saunders is ‘ without doubt the leading junior’ - ‘ absolutely incredible’. He ran a successful defence in SFO v Patel. Hugo Keith is also ‘ well respected’.

Gareth Rees QC at 7 Bedford Row is ‘ very well thought of’ as an ‘ energetic, effective silk’. Timothy Barnes QC leads for the Crown in the alleged £250m international investment fraud trial of R v Brook. Richard Latham QC is engaged on R v Rastogi, a US$700m metal traders’ fraud against banks in the UK and USA. He ‘ cannot be beaten for all-round excellence’. Rupert Mayo is ‘ sharp, hardworking, and excellent on detail’.

At 9-12 Bell Yard, Mukul Chawla QC is considered a ‘ leading silk with an intelligent style - he’s a pleasure to listen to’. Mohammed Khamisa QC is also deemed ‘ extremely good’. Top-tier juniors Alexandra Healy and Mark Bryant-Heron are both considered ‘ absolutely superb’.

23 Essex Street is gaining a reputation as a strong fraud set. Jonathan Fisher QC is ‘ meticulous in preparation, extremely responsive and hard-working - judges defer to his knowledge’. Charles Miskin QC has ‘ a `fantastic intellect’. Simon Russell Flint QC is ‘ charming with clients, and versatile’. John Causer is ‘ good on the law, and has the details at his fingertips’.

Andrew Baillie QC of 9 Gough Square successfully prosecuted the Independent Insurance fraud, and ‘ did a fantastic job, with deadly cross-examination’. Rosina Cottage is ‘ a strong advocate with a nice style that invites jurors to think for themselves’. Fred Ferguson is ‘ a very experienced fraud junior’. Martin Pinfold‘ moves the prosecution forward in a relentless, yet intelligent fashion. His understanding of investigations from his SFO experience enables him to interact positively with the police’. Philip Henry has ‘ great experience, and takes a good strategic view’. Tom Little is also recommended.

Solicitors say that 2 Hare Court‘ provides an excellent service’. James Pickup QC is a ‘ highly regarded’ fraud expert, and defence specialist Stephen Ferguson is a ‘ powerful and persuasive, “must-have” advocate’. Andrew Radcliffe QC, Charles Salmon QC and David Howker QC are also recommended.

‘ In a league of her own’, Clare Montgomery QC at Matrix Chambers is ‘ quite brilliant, and has the ear of the court’. Criminal compensation and confiscation specialist Tim Owen QC is a ‘ superb, calm, and hands-on leader’. Alex Bailin is ‘ a good intellectual lawyer, who produces excellent skeleton arguments’. Julian Knowles is also recommended.

33 Chancery Lane’s Andrew Mitchell QC is an ‘ impressive fraud and confiscation specialist’, ably supported by Kennedy Talbot. At 6 King's Bench Walk, Roy Amlot QC is ‘ brilliant at fraud’. ‘ Bright and impressive’ Duncan Penny also comes ‘ highly recommended’. Jonathan Caplan QC at 5 Paper Buildings is ‘ excellent with clients, able to give clear and precise advice and simplify complicated matters. He’s fantastic’. Anuja Dhir also receives plaudits. 18 Red Lion Court is a ‘ great outfit for fraud work’. Antony Shaw QC is ‘ unfussy, quiet and extremely effective’. Anthony Arlidge QC is rated, as is Mark Lucraft QC, who is ‘ bright, steady, and thoroughly nice’.

Press releases

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

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    - Boult Wade Tennant

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  • A cautionary tale of self-investment and personal liability

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    - Eversheds LLP

  • Pensions Regulator: alert in the economic downturn

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    - Eversheds LLP

  • A new disclosure regime: for better or worse?

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  • Online behavioural advertising

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    - SJ Berwin LLP

  • When an ‘aura of luxury’ prevents sales to unlicensed distributors

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    - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

  • Competition law and retail financial services

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Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

  • Agrofert Successful in Law Suit against PKN Orlen

    PRAGUE (30 June 2009) – The Arbitration court in Prague has decided in favour of company Agrofert Holding (“Agrofert”) in its claim against Polish company Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen (“PKN Orlen”). The Polish company has to pay, on the basis of decision of the arbiters, a contractual penalty which exceeds EUR 77.2 million (over 2 billion CZK) with accessories.
    – Pokorný, Wagner & Partner

  • UBS CHF 3.8bn share placement

    On June 25, 2009, UBS AG (SIX: UBSN) announced that it is offering 293,258,050 newly issued shares from authorized capital to a small number of institutional investors at a price of CHF 13.00 per share. After deducting cast associated with the placement, the amount of new equity capital expected to be raised is approximately CHF 3.8 billion.
    – Homburger

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  • Three partner admissions at Carey Olsen in Jersey

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  • Penningtons celebrates SRA and Farriers Registration Council tender wins

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    – Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Penningtons advises on Trans-Siberian Express luxury travel deal

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    – Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Penningtons trainee encourages young Londoners to choose a career in law

    Catherine McCann, a trainee solicitor at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, has been invited to contribute to a new guide published by the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry to help young people consider the many types of jobs available in the capital.
    – Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • BAKER & MCKENZIE ADVISES FIBERWEB ON JOINT VENTURE WITH PETROPAR

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  • Salans awarded Best European Law Firm

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  • unit specialising in transaction and financing consultancy

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    – Hermann Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerbe
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