The Legal 500

United Kingdom > London Bar > Fraud: crime (including money laundering and asset forfeiture)

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Index of tables

  1. Fraud: crime – Leading Sets
  2. Fraud: crime – Leading Silks
  3. Fraud: crime – New Silks
  4. Fraud: crime – Leading Juniors

Fraud: crime – Leading Silks

Fraud: crime – Leading Juniors

2 Bedford Row is ‘a heavyweight criminal set that has star performers at all levels’. Jim Sturman QC is ‘an absolute star, at the very top of the tree’. William Clegg QC is ‘an excellent fraud lawyer’. Peter Lodder QC and Ian Stern QC are also recommended, as is the ‘commercial, down-to-earthMark Milliken-Smith QC. Stephen Ferguson has ‘“true grit” – highly intelligent, totally committed, always accessible’. Alison Pople, Timothy Kendal and Sean Hammond are all recommended. Dean Armstrong is ‘adept at managing the crossover between civil and criminal fraud issues’.

What Cloth Fair Chambers lacks in size, it more than makes up for in the quality of the seven members that make up the set. Specialising in crime and criminal fraud, standout individuals include Ian Winter QC, ‘among the best silks around’, and Nicholas Purnell QC and Jonathan Barnard, who are ‘in a class of their own’. Timothy Langdale QC, John Kelsey-Fry QC, who has ‘a keen eye for detail and an excellent client manner’, and Clare Sibson are also recommended.

QEB Hollis Whiteman provides ‘uniformly high quality across a range of seniority’, with Anthony Glass QC utilised extensively on complex, high-value fraud cases. William Boyce QC, Mark Ellison QC and Peter Finnigan QC are also recommended. Since obtaining the status of silk, Sean Larkin QChas gone from strength to strength’. Of the juniors, Selva Ramasamy is ‘a consummate jury advocate with an extremely engaging manner’, Adrian Darbishire has ‘incisive intelligence and quickly gets to the heart of the matter’, and Bridget Petherbridge is ‘one of the few outstanding criminal counsel of her call’. Paul Raudnitz is ‘a silk in the making’.

Three Raymond Buildings is a ‘first-class set, with excellent clerking to complement its excellent barristers’. 2010 saw the arrival of Richard Horwell QC from Cloth Fair Chambers, who is ‘an exceptionally talented counsel with a huge breadth of experience’, and Trevor Burke QC, who joined from Charter Chambers, and recently led the defence in a £500m fraud claim against various international banks. ‘Quite simply a class act’, Patrick Gibbs QC’s ‘outstanding ability is reflected in the quality of the work he undertakes’. James Lewis QC has ‘a clarity of judgement and wisdom that few can match’. Jonathan Ashley-Normanargues on his feet as strongly as he does on the page’. Neil Saunders has ‘a very thorough knowledge of forensic matters and experience of criminal litigation at all levels’. Ben Brandon has ‘vast and practical knowledge of extradition and regulatory offences’, and ‘all-round good advocateNicholas Yeo has continued to act in large money laundering and VAT fraud cases. Philip Hackett QC joined Argent Chambers.

25 Bedford Row has ‘an extensive skill base, with members always willing to go the extra mile for the client’. George Carter-Stephenson QC combines ‘a down-to-earth manner with a “street-fighting” approach’, and Peter Doyle QC is many clients’ ‘counsel of choice in complicated commercial fraud cases’. Nigel Sangster QC’s ‘approachability, reliability and tactical awareness’ make him a valued asset in serious fraud, money laundering and confiscation proceedings. Richard Furlong combines ‘sound advice with a practical approach and impressive grasp of complex financial issues’. Dermot Keating and Nathaniel Rudolf are also recommended.

23 Essex Street is ‘an entirely professional and commercially savvy set’. Gareth Rees QC is ‘able to reduce complex ideas into simple propositions’, and the ‘meticulousCharles Miskin QCalways gives sound advice in the client’s best interest’. Simon Russell Flint QC is acting in a multimillion-pound fraud case, and Christopher Kinch QC is praised for ‘excellent client skills that match his advocacy and preparation’. Gary Summers is ‘an experienced and sound tactician’. ‘Excellent fraud practitionerMark Fenhalls is ‘a very approachable, good communicator’. Rising star Jonathan Lennon’s ‘knowledge of the law is second to none’. Ashraf Khan is ‘comfortable with any level of tribunal and is completely au fait with complex legal issues’.

An immensely strong set’, 2 Hare Court’s ‘silks are leaders in their respective fields, and the junior end of the scale is second to none’. White-collar crime specialist Andrew Radcliffe QC is ‘very measured and calm’, and James Pickup QC is recommended for his expertise in commercial fraud defence and corporate crime. Martin Hicks QC is ‘a barrister of impeccable judgement’. The ‘highly intelligent, clear, calm and ableChristopher Coltart, Craig Ferguson and Robin Barclay are all recommended juniors.

Matrix Chambers has developed into ‘a superb set with some real stars’, including the ‘bright and commanding presence’ of Tim Owen QC, and Clare Montgomery QC, who continues to represent BAE in connection with corruption allegations. Andrew Bodnar has ‘a remarkable knowledge of confiscation case law’. Julian Knowles QC took silk in 2011.

18 Red Lion Court has a heavy prosecution focus and provides ‘generally high levels of advocacy with some remarkable individual barristers’. The ‘utterly dependableAntony Shaw QC is recommended, as is David Etherington QC, who is ‘one of the most articulate QCs at the bar’. Allison Clarecan reduce the complex to easily understood propositions of fact or law’, and Tom Payneis a real star’.

At 7 Bedford Row, the ‘incredibly patient and methodicalRichard Latham QC is recommended, as is Collingwood Thompson QC, who is ‘extremely well liked and hardworking’. Philip Shears QC is ‘always able to provide thoughtful, articulate and logical responses to any questions’. Nicholas Dean QC has a ‘pragmatic and business-like approach’. David Farrer QC is also recommended. Among the juniors, Andrew Wheeler impresses with his ability to always stay on top of lengthy and complex cases’, and Jason Mansell’s experience at the FSA and the CPS ‘means he has a unique blend of the perspective of a barrister and a solicitor’.

At 9-12 Bell Yard, Mukul Chawla QCknows his stuff on the technical side, and has a silky smooth, unflustered style in the court that juries (and judges) love’. Julian Bevan QC is also recommended, as is ‘elegant and detailed advocateMichael Egan QC. ‘Exceptional barrister and advocateAlexandra Healy QC took silk in 2011. Mark Bryant-Heron is acting in the prosecution of a large-scale, £50m VAT missing trader fraud.

33 Chancery Lane has ‘great expertise in serious fraud, money laundering and asset recovery cases’. Andrew Mitchell QC ‘is a real heavyweight for the big cases and even bigger clients, providing robust advice when needed’. Graham Brodie is ‘a defence barrister for the modern age, fearless and technically brilliant’. Martin Evans is ‘decisive, reliable and able to get a good grasp of the detail in complex fraud’. Kennedy Talbot is also recommended.

At 9 Gough Square, Andrew Baillie QC is ‘very proficient in this area’, and Fred Ferguson has ‘great mastery of complex facts’.

5 Paper BuildingsJonathan Caplan QC is ‘a star silk, and first choice on the most sensitive and complicated cases’. Michael Brompton QC is noted for his experience in MTIC prosecutions. Justin Cole is ‘a very clever man who works extremely hard’.

At 6 King’s Bench Walk, David Perry QC is recommended, as is leading junior Duncan Penny.

Outer Temple ChambersPhilip Mott QC has ‘clear vision and good strategic direction’, and Nicholas Medcroft provides ‘incisive legal analysis and high-quality advice’.

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