Richard Whittam KC > Matrix Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Richard Whittam KC

020 7404 3447 richardwhittam@matrixlaw.co.uk View profile

Career

Fraud, Financial and Business Crime

Richard has significant experience in Deferred Prosecution Agreements. He was instructed to lead a team of experienced junior counsel over a 3 year period to achieve the Deferred Prosecution Agreement against Rolls Royce plc.  At the time it was the largest single investigation carried out by the SFO. The investigation covered four strands of the work carried out by Rolls Royce [Civil Aviation, Defence Aviation, Energy & Marine divisions]. The facts spread across two decades in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Russia, Nigeria and China.

He was instructed by third parties in relation to the Deferred Prosecution Agreements against G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd and Serco (UK) Ltd.

In addition to his defence work, Richard is instructed privately to prosecute serious allegations of fraud. He was privately instructed to prosecute the former Chief Executive Officer of DAS (UK). After a trial lasting three months three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to defraud.

Richard advises both potential defendants and prosecution authorities on pre-trial strategy. He regularly advises Government agencies and other public bodies including Cabinet Office, Attorney General’s Office, Government Legal Department, Serious Fraud Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, National Crime Agency, Crown Prosecution Service and the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman. He has a wealth of experience in national security matters, and has advised on and acted in cases where there has been a SOCPA agreement.

Serious Crime

As First Senior Treasury Counsel 2013-2015 Richard prosecuted some of the most serious criminal cases such as the murders of Fusilier Lee Rigby and Jo Cox MP.  Particularly complex cases include the ‘Airlines Bomb Plot’, which was at its time the largest police investigation in the world, Incedal the ‘secret terrorist trial’, McCormick for making and supplying ‘fake bomb detectors’, and Anjem Choudary, the ‘hate’ preacher.

Memberships

Fraud Lawyers Association

Financial Services Lawyers Association

Criminal Bar Association

ARDL

South Eastern Circuit

International Associate Member of the American Bar Association

Education

LLB (Hons), University College London