The Legal 500

Doughty Street Chambers

53-54 DOUGHTY STREET, LONDON, WC1N 2LS, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 020 7404 1313
Fax:
Fax 020 7404 2283
DX:
223 LONDON CHANCERY LANE
Web:
www.doughtystreet.co.uk
Email:
Manchester, London, Bristol

Edward Rees QC

Email:
Doughty Street Chambers ()

Position

Edward Rees specialises in crime, fraud and asset recovery. Notable recent cases: R v Scarrott (Kingston CC) (regulatory and financial crime) - £27 million pound VAT fraud - abuse of process/legitimate expectation of immunity from prosecution as result of civil investigation; R v Barkshire (Nottingham CC) (political) - climate change action - conspiracy to trespass at Ratcliffe-on Stour power station; R v Bard & others (Leeds CC) (Political) - climate change protest action at Drax Power Station - prevention of crime and necessity defences; R v Brett (CA) (appellate) - unsuccessful prosecution Court of Appeal application to quash jury acquittal on basis of fresh evidence under CJA 2003; R v Belben (Chelmsford CC) (homicide) - killing of father by 15 year old - diminished responsibility - negative reaction to Prozac; R v Guney (CCC) (homicide) - Incitement of undercover police officer to murder mother of child of Dodi Fayed; R v Khan (CCC/CA) (homicide/appellate) - murder - anonymity order appeal; R v Powar & Others (homicide) - gang murder - anonymity order; R (Chief Con of Manchester) v City of Salford M.C. [2009] 1 WLR 1023 (Div Ct) (regulatory and financial crime) - cash seizure under POCA 2002 of proceeds of sale of goods manufactured by company using illegal entrants; R v Nguyen [2008] 2 CrAppR 99 (CA) (homicide) - important decision re: 'bad character' provisions of CJA 2003 and admissibility of unprosecuted allegations; R v Portwine (CCC) (political) - trial of animal rights activists under Serious Organised Crime and Police Act; R v Serrano (CA) (appellate) - CCRC referral of 1982 murder conviction; R v Barot & others (Woolwich CC) (terrorist and political) - 'gas limos project'/radioactive 'dirty bomb' terrorist trial; R v Olditch & Pritchard (Bristol CC) (political) - anti-war action against American B52 bombers at RAF Fairford - prevention of crime and protection of property defences. Career cases: trial and appeals of Winston Silcott for the murder of PC Blakelock; Whitemoor Prison breakout trial; M25 prison escape trial; Orgreave Miners trial; St. Paul's, Bristol riot trial; 'Bradford Twelve' trial; trial of Ron Brown MP; the 'Rettendon murders' (3 men shot dead in a range rover in Essex); R v Ajibade [2006] 2 CrAppR (S) 70 (CA) (regulatory and financial crime) confiscation - valuation of controlled drugs as benefit; R v H.M. Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon - (QBD) (Political) - judicial review - counsel for family of airman volunteer unlawfully killed in 1953 nerve gas experiments at Porton Down; R v Ayliffe (Cardiff CC) (political) - 'The Barry 13' - Greenpeace volunteers intercepting American ship carrying GM crops - defences of prevention of crime and necessity; R v Lewis (Blackfriars CC) (regulatory and financial crime) - abuse of process - £170 million MTIC fraud; R v Grant [2005] 3 WLR 437 (CA) (appellate) - successful abuse of process appeal - police monitoring and tape recording of solicitor/client conversations at Lincolnshire police stations; R v Syron Martin (CCC) (homicide) - shooting in Tottenham High Road - provocation / post traumatic stress disorder 1; R v A Juvenile (CCC) (homicide) - murder of a 14 year old by another 14 year old; provocation involving conduct disorder); R v Causley (Exeter CC) (homicide) - retrial of notorious 1985 "no body" domestic murder following a CCRC referral to the CA; R v James (CA) (appellate) - CCRC referral of 1986 murder conviction; Beckles v UK (European Court of Human Rights) (appellate) - re: right of silence; R v Hakala (CA) (appellate) - CCRC murder referral; R v Jama (CCC) (homicide) - asperger's syndrome as a basis for diminished responsibility; R v Allan (CA) (Appellate) - prison telephone intercepts and the Interception of Telecommunications Act 1985; in Re P (CA) (Miscellaneous) - the necessity for an independent and impartial tribunal in wasted costs hearings.

Career

Called 1973; Gray's Inn; QC 1998. Publications of note: Blackstone's Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; The Law of Public Order and Protest (OUPO; Blackstone's Criminal Practice : annual chapters on confiscation and asset recovery).

Education

Howardian High School, Cardiff; University College of Wales (LLB (Hons)).

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